While is a few weeks from free agency, it seems inevitable that hell re-sign with the Pirates. The franchise legend has made clear on multiple occasions that he intends to finish his career in Pittsburgh. The Bucs have reciprocated that interest. Comments this week from both McCutchen and general manager Ben Cherington point toward the former MVP eventually returning for a 12th season. In June, the 37-year-old told he planned to continue playing. McCutchen restated those intentions in a chat with the beat on Tuesday ( ). This morning, Cherington Fabricio Oberto Jersey confirmed the Pirates hope to keep him around. Hes proving again this year that he can hit and hit at a level that helps us win games, the GM told reporters ( ). I would just repeat what I said before. We would love to find a way for Andrew to finish his career in a Pirates uniform. Glad he feels good, feels like he can still do that and still play. As I did last year, as we get to the end of the season, well have a conversation with Andrew after the seasons over. This is indeed how things played out last fall. McCutchen had returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal over the 2022-23 offseason. In early October, Cherington said the sides would talk about a new contract over the winter. It took until December, but the parties eventually hammered out a $5MM deal for 2024. As he did in 2023, Cutch has performed well offensively. Hes reached the 20-homer threshold for the first time in three seasons. Hes hitting .241/.338/.432 in 470 plate appearances. His strikeout and walk rates have each gone in the wrong direction, but hes hitting for more power than he did last season. By measure of wRC+, McCutchen has been 14 percentage points above league average offensively for a second straight year. Thats second on the team behind among those with 300+ plate appearances. Reynolds, McCutchen, and (the latter of whom has 232 PAs) have been the only above-average hitters in the Pittsburgh lineup. The five-time All-Star is almost exclusively a designated hitter. McCutchen has started two games in right field. His 102 other appearances have come as a DH. That limits the teams flexibility. McCutchen is fifth in MLB in plate appearances as a designated hitter. The four players ahead of him , , and have each hit 30+ homers. McCutchen isnt going to provide that level of production at this stage of his career, but hes still one of the more potent bats in a Pittsburgh lineup that needs to be more effective. Theres a simple case for bringing him back even before considering McCutchens locker room presence and his iconic status within the organization. Itd likely be another one-year deal. McCutchen has signed for $5MM in each of the last two offseasons. Hed be justified in seeking a modest pay bump this time around. When he signed after the 2022 season, he was coming off the only below-average offensive showing of his career. Hed bounced back last year, but the reunion was cut short by a partial tear of his left Achilles in September. Hes trending towards a healthy finish in 2024. That could push his salary up by a couple million dollars, though its fair to a sume hes more concerned with staying in Pittsburgh than he is about maximizing his earning power. Artis Gilmore Jersey